Common Furnace Problems, And How To Handle Them

Just as there’s a lot that can go right with your furnace, such as something as simple as it actually turning on, there’s just as much that can go wrong. While you can always reach out to an HVAC contractor in Santa Rosa and Marin County to help you get to the bottom of furnace problems, Next Level HVAC wants to help you help yourself. Here are five common furnace problems, and how you can take care of them.

​1. The Furnace or Thermostat Doesn’t Seem To Work

​Before you allow dread to fill you at the realization that your furnace or thermostat seems to be on the fritz, check the thermostat. Specifically, make sure it’s actually set to “heat.” Next, check the thermostat’s batteries to ensure they still have some juice. The inside of your thermostat could be clogged, so open it up and gently blow on the inside. A quick breaker check could get you back in action, and so could checking the time and date if you have a programmable thermostat.

​​2. There’s No Heat Pumping From the Vents

Maybe your furnace turns on and your thermostat works fine, but the problem is there isn’t any heat blowing out your vents. This is another issue where it could be you’ve got a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. Pop open the circuit breaker panel and find the furnace circuit. If it’s in the middle, you can flick it to the “on” position, switching it back and forth to test it and determine whether it may trip again. If this doesn’t help, you may need to call either an electrician or an HVAC contractor.

​3. There’s Not Much Heat Blowing From the Vents

So there’s heat coming out the vent, but not enough heat to keep you and your family comfortable. The root of the issue could be your HVAC system’s air filters are clogged or dirty. Regularly cleaning and replacing vents is essential for optimum energy efficiency. Clogged and dirty filters not only block heat from blowing, but they also make your furnace work harder than necessary to reach your desired temperature. When that happens, you’re likely to see higher energy bills, even though it feels as if you haven’t been using your furnace that much.

​4. Your Furnace Isn’t Functioning As Well As It Used To

While it’s true older furnaces don’t work as well as they used to because of their age, there are other contributing factors to consider. For instance, if you’ve allowed clutter to gather around your furnace, it can restrict the appliance’s “breathing.” Clear out the space around your furnace, and get into the habit of cleaning, dusting and vacuuming around your furnace.

​5. Yellow Burner Flames

Your furnace’s flames should burn blue and clear. The presence of yellow flames is a prime indication that your burners need a thorough cleaning, which can be done with a vacuum cleaner. Turn off the gas and burner before you start cleaning around it.Be sure to check back next month for five more common furnace problems and their solutions. Fill out a Next Level HVAC Contact Us form, be sure to like us on Facebook, find us on LinkedIn and sign up for our blog.

Maintain Your Heater in the Santa Rosa Winter

​Santa Rosa weather might be fairly pleasant most of the year, but the nights can get cold in the winter. Keeping your heater operating efficiently is important to your comfort and your budget. Most homeowners want to keep their appliances working for as long as possible to avoid costly replacements. Here are four ways you might be overworking your heater, which can cause it to use too much energy and will reduce its lifespan. You can also discuss your concerns with your HVAC contractor. If your heater isn’t keeping you warm enough, it might need service or replacement.

​​Forgetting to Change the Air Filter

A dirty filter blocks the flow of air through your home. It’s not just about keeping allergens out of your home. Not changing your air filter at three to six-month intervals makes your blower work harder, wearing parts down. Purchase high-quality filters and change them as directed.

​Blocking Vents

Your HVAC system circulates air through the home. It has to work harder when furniture blocks the vents. It puts strain on the system, which makes it run more often to provide the same level of comfort. Take 10 minutes to walk through your home to make sure that your vents aren’t blocked. It’s easy to think that closed vents in rooms that you don’t use save you money, but they only make your heater work harder. Open the vents in the house.

​Too Many Air Leaks in Your Home

A cold, drafty house will cause your heating unit to work harder than it needs to. If your windows or doors aren’t sealed well, you’re letting cold air into your home. Your heater has to combat that additional air by turning on. It can cause some parts of the home to be too hot, while others may not ever get warm enough. Plus, you’re wasting money by overheating your home. Check your windows and doors for leaks and make repairs.

​Running Your Heater Too Often

Do you go to work and leave the heater on? Maybe you want to come home to a toasty, warm home, but running your heater all day when no one needs heat can raise your utility bills and overwork your heater. No, you don’t need to turn it off completely, but using a smart thermostat can help you save money and manage your settings.Set the heater to be lower when no one is home. Have it turn on about 15 to 30 minutes before someone gets home. You can also turn your heater down a couple of degrees at night and have your thermostat programmed to a higher temperature before you wake up. It’s a small adjustment, but it will reduce the wear and tear on your heater and save your budget. A programmable thermostat works great for summer months, too.

​Contact a Local Professional for Service

Contact Next Level HVAC, a residential HVAC Contractor in Santa Rosa and Marin County. We’re licensed, bonded and insured for your protection. Our business has an A+ BBB rating and is Diamond Quality Certified. For more information on keeping your heater at peak performance, use ouronline form to request service. Like us on Facebook for helpful articles on your HVAC system.

HVAC ​Air Duct Cleaning - Yes or No

​You’ve heard the commercials for duct cleaning. Are they true? Should you get your air ducts cleaned every year? According to the American Lung Association, indoor air can be more polluted than what you’re breathing in outside. However, the EPA reports that duct cleaning hasn’t actually been shown to prevent health problems. Is duct cleaning worth the effort, time and money?

​When to Get Your Ducts Cleaned

The EPA recommends having your ducts cleaned if you’re seeing these things:

There is mold growth in the duct system or in the components of your heating and cooling system.

Your ducts are clogged with dust and debris and you’re seeing particles being released into the air through your registers.

Your ducts are infested with rodents or insects.

It’s also suggested to get your air ducts cleaned if you have to frequently dust or are getting a lot of dirt and dust buildup on your air vents. If someone smokes inside your home on a regular basis, you should consider having your air ducts cleaned. People with allergies or breathing disorders may benefit from regular air duct cleanings.​

​How Often to Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned?

You should get your air ducts cleaned when they get dirty. That depends on a number of factors. How well sealed is your home? What type of air filters are you using in your HVAC system? How well weatherproofed is your home? How well does your vacuum small contaminants? There’s no set timeline for getting your ducts cleaned. It depends on the indoor air quality in your home.

If your home is well-sealed, you may not need to clean your ducts as often, maybe every three to five years. If you have to clean them more often, it could mean that you have a leak somewhere which is allowing dirt and dust to accumulate in your air ducts. If there are no leaks in your duct system, the contaminants enter through windows, doors, by your pets and the people living there.

​What to Expect During a Cleaning

Your service provider, an HVAC contractor, should inspect your system before cleaning the air ducts. Technicians will look for asbestos in the system and any other problems before performing the work. You can expect us to protect the carpet and furnishings during the cleaning. Ideally, vacuum equipment should exhaust outside, but high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) is effective for indoor use. Your technician should protect the duct work and reseal any access holes that were made. Soft-bristled brushes are recommended. The EPA offers a checklist to determine if your technician did a good job or not. It’s a good resource to have.

Tips for Installing a New HVAC System in a Brand New Home

Rebuilding your house after the October 2017 Tubs fires can be an emotional experience with its rewards and challenges. As you design every room, you do not want to neglect your new HVAC system. The best way to go about doing this is by hiring a local Santa Rosa HVAC contractor to guide you along the way. You need to know what is going on at every step of the process, and here are some steps to follow to ensure you get the perfect HVAC to go inside your newly built home.

​1. Consider Purchasing an Energy Star System

Over the past few years, more homeowners have become aware of the importance of installing energy efficient systems in their houses. With so many different units out there, it can be tough to know which ones are worth getting. Fortunately, you just need to look for the Energy Star logo. This logo signifies that the system in question meets certain government requirements. With one of these units, you can cool down or heat up your home without worrying about getting an excessively high electric bill.

2. Do Not Oversize

Bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to your HVAC system. You need to choose the appropriate size when it comes to installing an air conditioner, furnace or heat pump. When you buy a unit that is too large for the space, it decreases the overall efficiency. Ultimately, you end up with more premature wear and tear on your system because it is incapable of maintaining the proper temperature in your house. You also end up with higher power bills. You do not need either of these things after you have spent a ton of money constructing your new home.

3. Pay Attention to the Thermostat

If you decide to install an HVAC unit on your own, then most of your attention will likely go toward the air conditioner and furnace. However, when you hire an HVAC contractor, you know some attention goes toward the thermostat, which is just as important. More specifically, you want to install a smart thermostat that pinpoints the most accurate temperature you want. These smart thermostats learn your behavior over time, so it will automatically adjust depending on the time of day. Additionally, some devices come with Wi-Fi capability, so you can alter the temperature right from your phone.

The Tubbs fire in 2017 destroyed many homes. Many homeowners in the area are in the process of rebuilding, and the professionals at Next Level HVAC are here to help. They will provide you with expert advice on the cooling and heating services, so you can be comfortable in your new home all year long. We service homes in all of Marin County and Sonoma County. We are fully bonded, licensed and insured. We have even received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. For more information on how we can help you, request an estimate today. Subscribe to our blog, find us on LinkedIn and like us on Facebook to stay in the loop.

​Save Money and the Environment With a Smart Thermostat

These days, everyone wants to shrink their carbon footprint. Unfortunately, most ways to do that are expensive, inconvenient or both. Smart thermostats are an exception. They reduce energy consumption and pay for themselves with the money they save. Fortunately, there is an HVAC Contractor in Santa Rosa and Marin County that can bring smart thermostats into your home. That contractor is Next Level Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.

Conventional Thermostats Have Limits

These thermostats have manual controls. If you set the temperature, it stays at that setting until you change it. These single-setting thermostats are especially inconvenient in parts of the country where you may occasionally need heat in the morning and the cooling in the afternoon. Before leaving for work, you may reset the thermostat. Unless you turn it completely off, any setting you choose will likely waste energy while you are away. Here are three excellent reasons why you should consider installing smart thermostats.

1. Smart Thermostats Will Help Reduce Your Energy Usage

A programmable thermostat will make your home comfortable for your family during the waking hours. At night or when everyone is out, it can reduce energy consumption. You always have the option to override the settings if necessary.Smarter thermostats can connect to your home network and allow you to control your thermostat from anywhere in the world using a smartphone app. Controlling your thermostat in this way can reduce your energy consumption even more.

2. Smart Thermostats Will Save You Money

You can see that smart thermostats save energy and reduce your carbon footprint, making the world a better place. Don’t forget, however, that reducing energy consumption also reduces the cost of heating and cooling your home. That also makes your checking account a better place. In the HVAC business, we call that a win-win situation.

3. Smart Thermostats Will Keep You Comfortable

You already know how to set the thermostat in your home to keep your family comfortable. The problem is that, with a conventional thermostat, you need to be there to make it happen. After that, it takes a while for your home to reach a comfortable temperature. A smart thermostat can be programmed to set the desired temperature the same way you do but do so ahead of time. By the time you arrive, your home will already be at a comfortable temperature.

If you have one of the smarter thermostats, you have even more flexibility. With your smartphone app and internet access, you can override the programming and reset your thermostat at any time from anywhere.

The Right HVAC Contractor Can Give Your System a Brain Boost

If you are ready to let a smart thermostat manage the comfort level of your home, contact us at Next Level Air Conditioner & Heating Inc using our online form. You can also call us at 707-228-9921. We can help you with a new smart thermostat or any other heating and cooling needs.We have an A+ accreditation with the Better Business Bureau and are Diamond Quality Certified. Please take a few minutes and check us out on Facebook and LinkedIn. We hope you like us on social media. Also, consider subscribing to our blog so that you can have more great information delivered to your mailbox.

​The Importance of Routine HVAC Inspections

​As humans, we have a lot going for us, including our opposable thumbs, superior brain power, advanced technology and so much more. Yet, despite all that, we have a bad habit of putting off routine maintenance until something goes awry. For instance, most people don’t go to the chiropractor until they throw out their backs. They don’t go to the doctor unless they’re sick. They don’t get their vehicles into the repair shop until it breaks down on highway 101, and they don’t have their HVAC systems inspected until their homes are uncomfortably hot. While we can’t tell you what to do about your health or your vehicle, we can encourage you to allow an HVAC contractor in Santa Rosa and Marin County to inspect your system on an annual basis and provide the maintenance it needs to run smoothly year-round.

​What Does HVAC Inspection and Maintenance Entail?

Depending on when the last time you had an HVAC contractor over to inspect and maintain your system, the upkeep process may entail nothing more than testing and cleaning the system or it may involve the full on removal and replacement of broken components. If your system requires more than a routine test and cleaning, you may have to schedule a second visit during which the technician has more time to devote to restoring your unit to proper working order. A single maintenance visit can cost less than your weekly grocery bill, while the cost of replacement parts and a repair visit can range anywhere between $300 and $1,800 or even higher depending on the complexity of the job.

How Can HVAC Maintenance Help Your Wallet?

As mentioned above, the cost of repair is far greater than the cost of maintenance. However, HVAC maintenance doesn’t just help you save money upfront – it can also help you save big in the long-run. Below are just a few ways in which routine maintenance can beef up your bank account, even after you foot the bill handed to you by your HVAC contractor:

Extend the lifespan of your unit and possibly delay having to replace an older unit for months or even years

Reduce your monthly energy bill by utilizing an efficiently operating unit that retains 95 percent of its efficiency through its lifespan

Prevent major system breakdowns and costly repairs

Identify problems early on, thereby giving yourself the opportunity to make repairs on your own time

How Can Your HVAC Contractor in Santa Rosa and Marin County Keep You Safe and Comfortable?

Cost aside, the most important reason to get your HVAC system routinely inspected and maintained is safety. When parts malfunction within an HVAC system, they can overheat and therefore, cause fires and other dangers, such as carbon monoxide leaks and other health concerns. Before you crank up the heat this winter, call your certified HVAC contractor in Santa Rosa.

At Next Level HVAC, we are licensed, bonded, and insured. For more information on how we can help keep your costs down and comfort up, request an estimate today. Right now we’re offering free inspections with the purchase of a $69 tune up! Like us on Facebook, find us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our blog.